Below is a story from a participant, Catherine Smith, about a woman she met on her missions trip to Atlanta. What an incredible story!

            When I went to the park to evangelize to the people there, I met a lady named Melanie. I was nervous, but I trusted in God and started talking to her. It started off very casual. We talked about the weather, birthdays, etc, and then about her family. When talking about her only son she began to tear up. However she quickly wiped them away. We continued to talk, and once I thought that she was getting more open and comfortable with me, we began to talk about how she had gotten into this situation as a homeless person

            One word; “Drugs” brought her tears back. She told me that one night she was so consumed that one night while she was high she got into a horrible [car] accident at a warehouse she was at in order to get drugs. Due to the accident she broke her pelvis bone, but that didn’t stop her from her need for drugs. She crawled on her hands, but didn’t make it very far because she had accidentally set her feet on fire, from which she suffered 3^rd degree burns, and lost consciousness. Tears were falling as rain as she was telling me this story.

            I said to her; “So God saved your life.” (Earlier I had found out that she was a Christian.) She nodded and said that if it wasn’t for Him, she would’ve been gone a long time ago. God really broke my heart for Melanie as I was hearing her story. She’s been sober for 18 months, and that put a smile on both of our faces. What touched me the most was how kind, beautiful and giving she was, or still is. She made me realize how lucky I was to have a home and family and friends that love me. I realized that I should be beyond thankful for what I have. I prayed for her and she was so thankful and I was so touched by God’s love for her and her ability to be so open and loving despite the situation she was in.

            The next day I got to see her again. As soon as I went up to her, a smile appeared on her face. I talked to her once again and prayed for her once again. We hugged each other multiple times and she told me that it’s such a pleasure to see me and that she loves me. I was shocked that it’s only been two days but she loves me. I didn’t know what to say… then I realized that I love her too. She’s my sister in Christ and I really truly do love her. I am extremely thankful that God put me in her life and vice versa. I will continue to pray for her, just as I promised, and I will never forget her this amazing experience or God’s love for all His children.